Report: Cubs linked to Angels outfielder Jo Adell

William Liang - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 3 hours ago

In case you missed it, the 2025 GM meetings are currently underway, marking the beginning of the official MLB offseason period. It's at these meetings that the rumor mill really starts to spin, as this is when you hear about some surprising trade candidates who could be available during the Winter.

Some of the names that have been brought to the table are Byron Buxton, Ketel Marte, and Fernando Tatis as all three have been mentioned as potential trade candidates this offseason. Buxton would be the most likely name to be dealt given the Twins' financial situation, as Marte and Tatis play a massive role in their team's overall success.

While those may have been the names that headlined the GM talk at the deadline, another name was mentioned as a trade chip, and according to reports, it's a name the Cubs are considering making a run at this offseason. With Kyle Tucker officially hitting free agency and the uncertainty of what the Cubs' outfield plans are, keep an eye on Angels outfielder Jo Adell, as he is not only on the trade block, but is a name the Cubs are strongly considering adding this offseason.

Considering the Cubs already have Ian Happ, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, and Owen Caissie, among others, in the outfield, some may wonder where the fit for Adell would be, but the answer is relatively simple. He not only could fill in both corner spots throughout the season, but should Suzuki remain on this team and be given the right field job again, then Adell could slot into a DH role, which may not be a bad idea.

As good a season as Suzuki and the rest of the Cubs outfield had, losing Tucker is going to be a tough pill to swallow, as that alone leaves a massive hole in their lineup. This team has lacked power in the middle of their lineup for years, so it was a welcome change of pace to see some power last season.

Even with Tucker having a down year by his standards, he still provided them with 20-plus homers, as his production isn't going to be easy to replace. That is where having a player like Adell could come in handy, as he not only provides the Cubs with some defensive flexibility but also offers some pop from the middle of the lineup.

While his career numbers aren't great, hitting just .220 with 75 career home runs, Adell has started to come into his own as a player, finally showing what he could do when given a regular role in the field. His average wasn't great at .236, which was an improvement from where it was in the past. He, however, more than doubled his career home run total last season, belting 37 bombs and driving in 98.

That would play perfectly at Wrigley Field and in the middle of this Cubs lineup, but given the weather conditions at Wrigley the past few seasons, there is no guarantee he puts up those numbers again. Regardless, you can expect similar numbers to what Patrick Wisdom gave this team, which is a nice addition to any lineup as long as he doesn't strikeout at the same pace.

For as much power as Adell has, there is a ton of swing and miss in his game, and that is always going to be a concern with him. Take last season, for example, when Adell walked just 33 times compared to 151 strikeouts. That comes out to a .293 OBP, which is unacceptable for an everyday player.

What makes Adell's move to the Cubs an intriguing topic, and one that is starting to gain momentum, is that he is just 26 years old and has a promising baseball career ahead of him. The Angels are also a team interested in young pitching, and the Cubs have plenty of young pitchers, minus Cade Horton, to offer the Angels.

The two names popping up the most at this point are Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks, who appear to be stuck in neutral with the Cubs. Both of them were top pitching prospects in the Cubs' system in the past, but their minor league success hasn't consistently translated to the MLB. Brown had his moments last season and may have the bigger upside, but Wicks is the better pitcher at this point in his career, which is what the Angels may look at before making any deal.

Of all the rumors going on with the Cubs right now, this is by far the weirdest one yet. With an expected salary of just $5.5 million for 2026, Adell fits right into the Cubs' financial plans, which bodes well with an impending lockout coming. Expect Adell to continue garnering plenty of trade interest this offseason, with the Cubs being one of the teams interested in his services.